Question

How can we see image of an object ? Explain mechanism.

Answer 1

Why is an Image Formed?

Why is an Image Formed?Image CharacteristicsRay DiagramsWhat Portion of a Mirror is Required?Right Angle MirrorsOther Multiple Mirror Systems

In Lesson 1 of this unit of the Physics Classroom Tutorial, the manner in which light reflected off objects in order to allow us to see them was discussed. A major principle in that lesson was expressed as follows:

In order to view an object, you must sight along a line at that object; and when you do light will come from that object to your eye along the line of sight.

This very principle can be extended to the task of viewing the image of an object in a plane (i.e., flat) mirror:

In order to see the image of an object in a mirror, you must sight at the image; when you sight at the image, light will come to your eye along that line of sight.

The image location is thus located at that position where observers are sighting when viewing the image of an object. It is the location behind the mirror where all the light appears to diverge from. In the diagram below, three individuals are sighting at the image of an object along three different lines of sight. Each person sees the image due to the reflection of light off the mirror in accordance with the law of reflection. When each line of sight is extended backwards, each line will intersect at the same point. This point is the image point of the object.